Four people were injured early Sunday morning, three critically, after an SUV crashed into a concrete wall and trees on Fort Myers Beach and then burst into flames.

Lee County Sheriff's Office deputies and Fort Myers Beach Fire and Rescue fire fighters responding to a 9-1-1 call at 6025 Estero Blvd. at 3:58 a.m. found the driver and two passengers trapped in a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe. A fourth occupant had been pulled out by a passerby who was delivering newspapers.

Life-saving efforts began immediately, but the impact of the crash made it difficult to extricate the individuals inside, officials said, adding one passenger was trapped for about an hour.

The occupants of the vehicle were identified as driver James Lepore, 23, of Cape Coral, who sustained life threatening injuries (airlifted to the Burn Unit of Tampa General Hospital); front seat passenger Francis Gannon, 15, of Cape Coral, who sustained life threatening injuries (airlifted to the Burn Unit of Tampa General Hospital); rear seat passenger Asia Tannasse, 17, of Cape Coral, who remains hospitalized with life threatening injuries; and rear seat passenger/driver's side Brooke Bosley, 16, of Cape Coral, who was pulled from the vehicle and remains hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.

During the rescue, a portion of Estero Boulevard was closed to thru traffic for four hours.

Preliminary investigation confirms the vehicle was traveling north on Estero Boulevard near the 6000 block at a high rate of speed, officials said, adding the driver was unable to turn through the left-hand curve at the rate of travel. The vehicle left the roadway to the northeast, struck a road sign, sideswiped a concrete wall and struck a second concrete wall head-on. The momentum carried the Hyundai through the concrete wall before striking a tree on the right front corner panel.

The vehicle burst into flames, most likely when it collided with the concrete wall. In addition to the excessive speed of the vehicle, alcohol is believed to be a factor, officials said.